🔗 Share this article The former French president Describes Existence in Prison as ‘Draining’ and ‘an Ordeal’ Ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy has declared that his time behind bars has been “gruelling” and an “ordeal” as he appeared via remote connection at a judicial proceeding regarding his petition to serve his sentence at home. Court Appearance from Behind Bars Sarkozy, wearing a navy blue suit, was visible on screen from prison on Monday, positioned at a desk with his lawyers beside him. He told the court: “I want to commend all the correctional officers, who are exceptionally humane, and who have eased this difficult situation – because it is a horrific experience.” Context of the Case The former president entered the correctional facility in Paris on 21 October, after receiving a half-decade imprisonment for illegal collaboration over a plan to obtain funds for his election bid from the regime of the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. He has appealed against the ruling, but the court ruled that because of the “exceptional gravity” of his conviction, he had to go to prison while the appeals process took its course. Historical Importance Sarkozy, who was France’s conservative leader between 2007 and 2012, is the first former head of an EU country to be imprisoned in prison, and the initial leader since WWII to go behind bars. Emotional Testimony The former president told the court from prison: “I was completely unaware or intention to ask Mr Gaddafi for any kind of financing … I will never confess to something I am innocent of … I never imagined that at this stage of life, I’d be in prison. It’s an challenge that has been forced upon me. I admit it’s difficult, it’s very hard. It leaves a mark on any prisoner because it’s exhausting.” He said he would not try to communicate with any defendants or witnesses in the case. He said: “I’m French, I am patriotic, my family is in France. This situation has made them suffer a lot.” Defense Lawyers Observations Sarkozy’s lawyer Jean-Michel Darrois, positioned beside him in the remote connection facility, stated: “Being in isolation has been very hard for him.” He said of Sarkozy: “He’s a strong, robust and courageous man and this imprisonment has caused him great suffering.” In court, another of Sarkozy’s lawyers, Christophe Ingrain, who had visited him every day, asserted Sarkozy would be more secure out of prison than within. “He has received threats against his life, has listened to shouts at night and the urgent intervention in a neighbouring cell when a prisoner injured themselves,” he stated. Current Status The public attorney Damien Brunet asked that Sarkozy’s request for release be approved. The court will reveal its ruling on Monday afternoon. Incarceration Details Sarkozy has been placed in isolation for his own security, in an private room of about 9 sq metres, with his own washing facility and toilet. Security personnel are stationed nearby to ensure his safety. Accounts suggested that he had been eating only yoghurt in prison as he was concerned any food might have been contaminated. He had been given the opportunity to cook for himself but refused this. Support from Outside Sarkozy’s social media account last week shared a video of piles of letters, cards and parcels it said had been sent to him, including a collection, a sweet treat and a book. “No letter will go unanswered,” his account declared. “The final chapter has not yet been written.” Items in Prison Sarkozy took into prison a life story of Christ as well as the classic novel, the famous work in which an wrongly accused individual is imprisoned but breaks out to take revenge. Court Case Details During the lengthy court case, the public prosecutor had informed the judges that Sarkozy entered into a “corrupt agreement” of corruption with one of the most unspeakable dictators of the last three decades. The accused maintained his innocence and stated he had not been part of a criminal conspiracy to obtain campaign finances from Libya. He was found not guilty of three distinct accusations of dishonesty, misuse of Libyan public funds and illegal election campaign funding. After the state prosecutor also challenged these acquittals, Sarkozy will be re-tried on all the charges next year, including criminal conspiracy. Previous Convictions Although the claims of a clandestine financial agreement with the Libyan regime formed the biggest corruption trial Sarkozy had faced, he had already been found guilty in two separate cases and stripped of France’s highest distinction, the national recognition. The former president had previously become the first former French head of state forced to wear an monitoring device after being found guilty in a separate case of corruption and improper sway. In that case, he was given a 12-month sentence but was able to serve it with an ankle monitor worn around the ankle. He wore the tag for a quarter year before being allowed limited freedom.